Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Litigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carroll Consolidated board approves resolution authorizing litigation against social media firms
Summary
The Carroll Consolidated School Corp. board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing litigation by outside counsel against social media companies; the firms would be paid one-third of recoveries and the district would use any award for student mental-health resources, the board was told.
The Carroll Consolidated School Corp. board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing outside counsel to pursue litigation against social media companies, with any recovery to be used for student mental-health resources.
Superintendent (speaker labeled 'Superintendent' in the transcript) told the board the resolution authorizes Wagstaff and Cart Mill LLP to "initiate litigation and file suit against any appropriate parties to seek compensation for the district and its students" and authorizes the superintendent to sign fee agreements on the district's behalf. The packet lists the law firm and a contingency-fee arrangement in which the firm would receive one-third of any settlement or recovery.
A staff member (Clerk) described the effort as "very much like the Jewel litigation" that the same firm led previously and said the firm expects to advance filing costs on contingency: "Don't have to pay filing fees… there is literally 0," the staff member said in the meeting.
Board members asked whether the district would incur upfront costs and were told the firm is working on contingency; the resolution language and fee agreement are included in the board packet. The superintendent said any money awarded to the district would be directed toward mental-health resources and to support measures tied to upcoming restrictions on student cell-phone access during the school day.
The board voted by voice to approve the resolution after a motion and second. The transcript records the motion as moved and seconded and the chair calling for all in favor; the clerk recorded the action as approved (voice vote). The board packet (as referenced in the meeting) contains the resolution and the proposed fee agreement with the law firm.
Next steps: the superintendent was authorized to sign agreements and move forward with the litigation engagement as described in the packet. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote.
